At the end of the 2008 season, all 22 of the Colts starters had never played for another team.

source

Talk about developing your own players throught the draft -- the Colts are just like the Royals -- except they give the second contract.

I think there is a good argument for doing almost nothing in free agency this year, drafting some more young studs, and seeing what everyone on our team can do this year with good coaching -- then next year go for broke on that trophy with a couple big money signings and an extra year of experience for this young, and talented, team.

The big problem there is the QB situation.  Thigpen deserves a shot, IMO, but if he fails, we can't really legitimately expect the superbowl run with whatever first year starter we bring in.

In other news, 4 Colts free agents last i checked:

OL Jeff Saturday

WR Marvin Harrison

LB Tyjuan Hagler

RB Dominic Rhodes

1.  who to keep?

2.  who to let go and for what price?

3.  what are our strongest positions?  if we could make no changes, what would they be in 5 years?

4.  what are our weakest positions?  will those positions be better as our current players develop?

5.  what positions are best addressed via the draft?  free agency?

6.  stuff.

KCChiefs depth chart

Defense

Special teams

what is the worst player you can name, that if every player on the team were that good at their position, the team would make the super bowl?

for instance:  obviously, if every player on the team were as good as walter payton, the team would win the super bowl.  harvey williams, not so much.

who is the worst player you can name whose level of talent at every position would make a winning super bowl team?

doesn't have to be NFL i guess.  could name 1 chief and 1 player at large.

We've heard it said here that Pioli runs a tight ship.

The 'lockdown' at Arrowhead is driving lazy sports writers crazy, but I enjoy the speculation it breeds. We find out who is doing their homework, and who has been spoonfed, living off the teat.

Pioli's secrecy has created a situation in which sports writers and fans seem to crave information about the Chiefs even more than before -- how is that bad for the team? In my opinion, it's a great strategy. He will endlessly answer questions of philosophy, but as to specifics, you are welcome to draw your conclusions on gameday.

Pioli is methodical to the point that some are frustrated. Primetime put it like this:

Some semblance of urgency in that last statement which is good to hear. This process has been more reminiscent of the turtle rather than the hare.

Depending on the 'prism' you're looking through, Pioli either has an open mind about every player and coach, and isn't making any rash decisions, or each toenail requires a doctoral thesis, and by then Cowher is gone.

I like the slow and steady approach, but I can appreciate a revolution. There is some truth to the idea that 'a good plan executed now is better than a great plan executed later', then again it's not untrue that 'slow and steady wins the race.'

Then again, cliches are not logic.

At any rate, I like the fresh eyes that are on the Chiefs this season. Pioli is confident in his process, and it will be fun for me to watch whether it translates to a super bowl.

Gotta love a guy who says, "We're in the market for good football players that are good people."

Here's what I want you to do:

Give me your predictions: (copy and paste between the ---'s into your reply)

-----------
Chiefs 2009 reg season wins =
Chiefs 2009 postseason wins =
Chiefs 2010 reg season wins =
Chiefs 2010 postseason wins =
With the #3 overall pick the chiefs select =
True or False: Chiefs draft a QB in 2009 =
True or False: Chiefs draft a RB in 2009 =
True or False: Chiefs draft a WR in 2009 =
Chiefs defensive coordinator (DC) will be =
Chiefs offensive coordinator (OC) will be =
True or False: Todd Haley will coach longer than his 4 year contract =
True or False: Tyler Thigpen starts game 1 2009 =
Chiefs starting QB in week 1 of 2010 =
Chiefs starting RB in week 1 of 2010 =
True or False: Larry Johnson carries the ball week 1 of 2009 =
True or False: Dwayne Bowe is our #1 receiver week 1 of 2010 =
True or False: TG starts game 1 2009 for the Chiefs =
Chiefs defensive formation in 2009 will be =
Chiefs defensive formation in 2010 will be =
Chiefs overall offensive standing 2009 =
Chiefs overall offensive standing 2010 =
Chiefs overall defensive standing 2009 =
Chiefs overall defensive standing 2010 =

----------------------

By 'overall offensive standing' I mean what will the Chiefs rank in total yardage: 3rd?  or 30th?

Here are some options for offensive and defensive formations for reference.

If you think the chiefs will trade down the #3 pick say so.

I left out 'chiefs will draft LB etc' in 2009 because I don't think there's much doubt and/or controversy surrounding other positions.  If I should have included something else, include away.

Careful with the 2009/2010 thing.

As to the Deadbolt Lock part, I have my tongue in my cheek.  Even if you aren't sure, guess, and say you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN.  It's what Chris Mortenson  would do, after all.  To those who would say, 'we have to wait for FA and the draft to know any of this stuff', well, that just makes hitting a homerun in your predictions that much sweeter.

If we could all paypal in $5 for a prediction pool that would be awesome.  Unfortunately, our government will not let us because it will cause teenagers to do meth and eat live babies.

Call out your predictions, hopes, or hair-brained theories about the Chiefs.

Mine:

1.  Chiefs keep Gailey and have a top 5 offense this year

2.  Chiefs will primarily run a spread

3.  Chiefs will not get suggs, vilma, haynesworth, or ray lewis

I would love to hear what some of you guys on AP think about the draft, free agency, next season, the 3 year plan, or whatever else suits your fancy.

Two more words

Player A figures to be a 3 points per game improvement over your already great offense.

Player B figures to represent a 2 points per game improvement over your shoddy, hole filled defense.

Which player?

duh ;)

That said, many other things come into whether the elephant in the room, Crabtree, is the 'BPA' on Pioli's board.  What's his character?  Work ethic?  Contract demands?  Agent?

In the interest of reaching 75 words, here ya go.

To me it's obvious.

1.  Promote Gailey to HC, or retain him as OC and bring in an open minded HC.  Age does not matter -- but experience is underrated lately.  Gailey has one of the best offensive minds in football.

2.  Draft  Crabtree, a huge offensive weapon and the most obviously standout talent in the draft.  Fits perfectly in a spread offense (in which Gailey, Thigpen, TG, Charles, and Bowe have already excelled).  Otherwise, use the tremendous leverage of it being common knowledge that Crabtree will not drop past 4 as a bargaining chip to negotiate a killer trade down.

3.  Draft and/or pickup in FA an O-line that will protect Thigpen enough to be able to evaluate his actual talent this year.

4.  Pick up Harrell in the late rounds (spread QB).

5.  Next year, evaluate Thigpen Harrell situation, pick up Vick and exploit the league negativity by grabbing this tremendous upside for cheap (see Randy Moss).  Otherwise, draft Tebow as the 2nd QB/ HB / TE.

6. Gailey will dominate the league offensively with this scenario -- no doubt in my mind (see my sig).

7. 'shoring up' the defense occurs with all draft picks and FA opportunities that do not obstruct the previous steps.  Focus on D-line and LB.

It seems that I'm ignoring defense -- quite the contrary -- I believe our defense is unique in that it SUCKED but doesn't suck.  Our corners are actually good and there are several line and LB guys who will be good with only a change of coaching.  I don't think our D needs as much help as the numbers would suggest.

Face it guys, the wildcat's taking over the NFL in the next few years -- write it down -- it's the new forward pass.  We are in a unique position -- we have Chan Gailey (who invented the Slash offense with Kordell Stewart in Pittsburgh), we have a team who ran the spread for most of last year, we have a scatback in Charles, we have Bowe and TG to help stretch the field, and we have a shot at Crabtree.

We are in the best position of any team in the league to show just what 2 quarterbacks on a field can do.

Thoughts?

I'd like to dispel a few myths about the Chiefs current situation that have cropped up in discussions here and elsewhere.

--------------------------------------
 Pioli's being unfair to Herm
---------------------------------------
this opinion stems from an assumption that Herm knows no more about his situation than we do.  Obviously, since he speaks to Pioli and Hunt every day, he knows far MORE about his situation than we do.  For all we know, he may know exactly what his future is.

Continue reading this post »